History

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, India has been a pioneer institute for psychiatric and neurological services In India. Research in Yoga has been going on in NIMHANS since the early 1970’s. Considering the popularity of Yoga, it was thought essential to establish a Yoga Clinic & Research Centre in specialized fields of Medicine. Thus, the Advanced Centre for Yoga – Mental health and Neurosciences was established at NIMHANS in November 2007 in collaboration with the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), New Delhi. This center was dedicated to Yoga promotion, training and research. The Advanced Centre provided service for patients and their caregivers suffering from psychiatric and neurological conditions, and also carried out pioneering research into the use of Yoga in neuropsychiatric conditions.

Yoga facilities in NIMHANS got a major breakthrough with the establishment of the NIMHANS Integrated Centre for Yoga (NICY) to carry on the work of the Advanced Centre. The AYUSH Block and the Yoga center were inaugurated by the Honorable minister of state for health and family welfare, Government of India, Shri Gandhi Selvan on 9th January 2013. The main thrust areas of the NICY were to provide quality yoga training to patients, develop generic yoga modules for neuropsychiatric disorders, to mainstream yoga as part of modern medical practice, and lead the way into scientific research into the effects of yoga in neuropsychiatric disorders. Facilities at NICY saw further expansion with addition of new yoga halls and assessment rooms as a part of collaborative research work with Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN). It was inaugurated by Shri C K Mishra, IAS, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare & AYUSH, Government of India. Situated in the AYUSH Block at NIMHANS, the center has the capacity for conducting four batches of Yoga therapy sessions simultaneously. The central hall has a capacity to conduct Yoga sessions for over 35 persons. The center is fully equipped with communication and research facilities. These facilities also aid in conducting regular academic programs in the center.